Liberian official highlights China’s poverty reduction as model for Africa

On October 31, 2024, the Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum convened in Beijing, China, under the theme "Jointly Promoting Poverty Reduction and Building Beautiful and Harmonious Villages."

At the forum, Francis F.B. Mulbah, Assistant Minister for Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture of Liberia, shared his insights during an exclusive interview with Guangming Online.

Mulbah emphasized that China and Africa face similar challenges, such as inequality and income disparity. Drawing on its own experiences, China has successfully implemented policies to reduce poverty, particularly through investments in agriculture. This strategy has not only narrowed the gap between the rich and poor but also fostered sustainable development in rural areas. Mulbah noted that while Africa possesses vast arable land and significant agricultural potential, the lack of advanced technology has hindered progress. He expressed hope for strengthened cooperation between China and Africa, with China sharing its modern agricultural technology to enhance Africa's agricultural productivity.

Beyond agricultural collaboration, Mulbah views China’s poverty alleviation model as a blueprint for African nations seeking to improve rural livelihoods and achieve sustainable development. He highlighted China’s remarkable achievement of lifting around 800 million people out of poverty within 40 years as a global inspiration. By fostering collaboration and learning from China’s success, Mulbah hopes Africa can similarly achieve transformative poverty reduction and sustainable growth.